Environmental Product Declaration: Overview
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized document which gives the environmental performance of product / service across its life cycle. EPD are transparent, comparable and third-party verified data about their products and services environmental performance.
An EPD is a so-called type III environmental declaration that is compliant with the ISO 14025 standard.The methodology of conducting EPD is based on product Life cycle assessment (LCA) and follow guidelines established in Product Category Rules (PCR).
Product Category Rule (PCR)
The PCR are document which provides the instructions for how the life-cycle assessment (LCA) should be conducted and result are to be disclosed. The goal of PCRs is to help develop EPDs for products that are comparable to others within the same product category. It sets out what you need to consider, including but not limited to:
- Goal of the LCA
- System boundaries, i.e. which processes and stages of the product’s life cycle need to be considered
- Declared/functional unit: the amount, weight and service life of the product being assessed
- Cut-off criteria
- Allocation rules
- Requirements of data quality assessment
- What impact categories need to be assessed in addition apart from the standard impact categories and other relevant information.
Life Cycle Model approaches to EPD Development Based on PCR:
Cradle to Gate involves only the raw material extraction, transportation of raw material to production site and manufacturing process. It has the minimum amount of data for life-cycle assessment.
Cradle-to-grave includes the whole life cycle of a product, from Raw material extraction to end of life considering the product use and maintenance.
Cradle-to-gate with options includes cradle-to-gate model with additional option module based on the PCR. For instance, organizations can incorporate specific modules for use, recycling, disposal, and other relevant factors alongside the cradle-to-gate framework.
Steps for creating Environemtal Product Declaration (EPD)
Product Category Rule (PCR) selection: Identify specific category of the product to be assessed. Create or adopt PCR that assessment methodology, indicator, data requirement for the product category.
Data Collection: Collect the relevant data for conducting the life cycle assessment
Conduct Life Cycle Assessment: Perform an LCIA analysis to evaluate the impact of the product throughout its life cycle
LCA & EPD report preparation: Prepare the LCA results in a standardized format according to the Product Category Rules (PCR) and the guidelines set by the program operator.
Verification: An independent third-party verifier conducts a critical review of the LCA and the EPD to ensure compliance with the PCR.
Publish the EPD: Make the EPD publicly available to provide transparent information about the product's environmental performance.
EPD Updation: Regularly review and update the EPD to reflect changes in the product, processes, or regulations.
Benefits of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs):
Transparency: EPDs provide clear and reliable information about the environmental impact of products, helping consumers and stakeholders make informed choices. They follow established guidelines, ensuring consistency in environmental reporting across similar products, which facilitates comparison.
Improved Sustainability: EPD helps identifying areas for improvement in product development, enhance their sustainability practices and reduce environmental impacts.
Market Advantage: EPDs can differentiate products in the marketplace, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers and companies seeking sustainable options. EPDs can strengthen brand image and credibility by showcasing their commitment to environmental responsibility.
Support for Green Certifications: EPDs can contribute to achieving green building certifications, such as LEED, by providing necessary environmental information.
Related Articles
Life Cycle Assessment: Overview
What is Life Cycle Assessment? A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is defined as the systematic analysis of the potential environmental impacts of products or services during their entire life cycle. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool to assess ...